Thursday, May 23, 2013

Return to Zero - An important movie and a request for your help

This is a request, but not for money – please keep reading to see how you can help.

As most of you know, I am a storyteller. There is one story
I have told many times over in the past 15 years, which is among the saddest
stories of my life.

I had a baby son. His name was Ari Joshua Stern. He was born on March 5,
1998, and he died on March 10, 1998. The
four months I spent on bed rest leading up to his birth and the many months and
years I have spent mourning, grieving and trying to give voice to that
experience have been one of the defining pieces of my life.

A few months ago, I was reading a blog and it had a link to
something that caught my eye – a movie that was being made called “Return to
Zero.” It stars Minnie Driver, Paul Adelstein, Alfred Molina and Kathy Baker in
a story about a couple facing a stillbirth. It is, according to the filmmakers,
the first film ever made about stillbirth and its effects on those who go
through it.

Although my birth and neonatal death experience was slightly different, I was still
so moved that this film was being made that I joined a Kickstarter campaign to
help the filmmakers finish their work and submit the movie to festivals.

I contributed financially to make “Return to Zero” a reality
because I know how hard it is to tell these stories. I know how important it is
to tell these stories. And I know how hard it is to hear these stories.

But I have long been dedicated to telling my story because
it helps me heal, and it helps the world understand how better to respond.

I decided to take my contribution one step farther, and I
have just signed up to be a Local Leader in the “Return to Zero” Kickstarter
campaign.

This is where you come in.

Films like “Return to Zero” do not have an easy time making
it to the screen. Even after the money
has been raised and the final edits have been made, the filmmakers are in the
unenviable position of having to convince the studios and the theaters that it
is worth their while to screen the movie.

As a Local Leader, I
have committed to getting 100 people to sign a pledge form stating that they will
commit to seeing “Return to Zero” opening weekend. Over 1,600 people around
the world have signed on as Local Leaders; if we all collect 100 pledges, we
have a worldwide commitment from over 150,000 people who would come out to see
this important movie on its opening weekend.

It’s not a blockbuster number, to be sure, but it’s enough
to make the statement that you, like I, believe that a movie like “Return to
Zero” has an important story to tell – one that affects all of us, in our
lives, our relationships and our communities.

Please sign the pledge form for “Return to Zero.” I promise that there will be no follow-up fundraising ask,
just a request that you help raise our voices for the premiere of this film.